Mechanical paint remover



March 13, 1956 H. J. JOHNSON MECHANICAL PAINT REMOVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1949 1 K \w t m w mm i ON gwuc/wfo'v HARRY J.JOHNSON March 13, 1956 Filed June 16, 1949 H. J. JOHNSON MECHANICAL PAINT REMOVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 HARRY J. JOHNSON Mm}! 1956 H. J. JOHNSON MECHANICAL PAINT REMOVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 16, 1949 Jwucnfoa HARRY J. JOHNSON at'towm cal paint remover of this invention.

United States Patent.

MECHANICAL PAINT REMOVER Harry J. Johnson, Ocean Grove, N. J. Application June 16, 1949, Serial No. 99,539 21 Claims. (Cl. 30-140) This invention relates to a mechanical paint remover and has for an object to provide an improved mechanical paint remover for removing paint and varnish from a surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hand powered paint remover which is practical and efficient for removing old paint or varnish from a surface.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanical paint remover which includes an adjustable electric heater, of either the resistance or infra-red type, which will operate at a temperature low enough to prevent the burning or scorching of the wood, yet will soften the paint film fast enough so that scraping operations may be continuous and rapid; that is easily operated, light in weight and durable in construction, economical to operate and may be manufactured at a reasonable cost.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanical paint remover provided with removable runners for adjusting the distance between the bottom of the paint remover and the painted surface. Paint film softens or blisters under heat due to the presence of organic binders, and if the paint is so old that little or no organic binder is left on the surface of the paint film, it may be necessary to coat the paint surface with such a binder (linseed oil for example) by applying a mixture or equal volumes of benzol and linseed oil, allowing it to dry or penetrate for about two days, and then operating the paint remover. When the paint film is heated, it softens and blisters, and the height of the blistering of course depends on the thickness of the paint film. By providing a series of differently sized runners, the paint remover may be adjusted to the proper height according to the thickness of the paint film to be removed.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanical paint remover wherein there is provided a scraper whose scraping depth may be adjusted to compensate for the depth of the paint film as well as the height of the paint remover.

A further object of this invention is to provide the runners along the bottom edge for the-purpose of preventing the paint remover device from tilting slightly to one side when passing over uneven softened paint.

A further object of this invention is to make it possible to readily swing the scraper to inoperative position to make it possible to operate the heating unit very close to an adjacent wall, to first soften the paint film, and thereafter to swing the scraper back to operative position for scraping action, without disturbing the height adjustment of the scraper.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafter become apparent, this invention comprises the combinations, constructions and operations of parts hereinafter disclosed, claimed and illustrated on the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side plan view of one form of the mechani- Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 3 is a side plan view of a slightly modified form.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a runner.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one form of scraper.

Fig. 7 is a side edge view of Fig. 6, and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a scraper blade.

There is shown at 10 the mechanical paint remover of this invention. This mechanical paint remover consists of an elongated base 11, along the bottom of which there is arranged to be detachably secured a set of runners 12, shown in Fig. 4, having upwardly curved front and rear ends 13. Each runner is provided with a plurality of countersunk stud bolt receiving apertures for fastening it to the bottom of the base 11. The runners 12 are provided in a series of graduated heights 19, so that the height of the base 11 from the paint film 14 may be adjusted according to the thickness of the paint film 14 and thus according to the varying expansion of the softened paint film. The runners 12 also serve to allow the paint remover 10 to slide easily over the surface being operated on, and also to maintain the scraper at the proper untilted angle to the-surface.

Supported within the open bottom of the base 11 is a heater element 15. This heater element may be of either the incandescent or infra-red type, and the heat therefrom reaches the paint film 14 therebelow through the open bottom of the base 11 between the runners 12. The heater unit 15 is suitably secured in position by stud bolts or otherwise (not shown) and may include a reflector surface along its top, particularly if of the infra-red type, and in addition, if desired, may include a glass window at the bottom, of the type readily penetrated by infra-red rays, to protect the element. Obviously, when the heater is of the incandescent type, heat will also reach the paint by conduction from the base and the runners. In the drawing, Fig. 5 shows a solid bottom base, which is not numbered. Operating current is connected to the' heater element by a pair of conductors 16 and 17 extending through an insulating rear handle 18 mounted at the top of a top casing 20 with an intervening insulation plate 21 therebetween. The conductors 16 and 17 extend through a cable 22 exteriorly of the handle 18 to any suitable source of electricity. One of the conductors 16 is connected through a combination rheostat and cut-off switch 23 having a control button 29 on top of the easing 20. A forward handle 24 is provided for use of the operators other hand. Secured on the front of the top casing 20 by stud bolts 25 is a hinge plate 26 having a removable hinge pin 27 on which is pivoted a second hinge plate 28.

This second hinge plate 23 is provided with a threaded boss 30 through which a knurled stud bolt 31 arranged to have its end 32 abut against the forward end of the base 11. Adjustably secured to the second hinge plate 28 by two or more wing nuts and bolts 33 is a scraper blade 34- having a lower sharpened edge 37 as wide as the open space of the bottom of base 11 between the runners 12 so as to scrape the paint film 14 that has been softened or blistered by the heater 15. Its upper edge 35 is curved over and forward as shown to discharge the removed paint film therefrom. In order that the scraper blade 34 may be adjusted along the second hinge plate 28, .it is provided with slots 36 for the securing bolts 33 and another slot 38 for the angle adjusting stud 31.

The form of the invention shown at 40 in Fig. 3 differs slightly in some details from that just described. Instead of two handles, this form is provided with a one piece double handle 41 through the rear of which extends the conductor cable 18 to within the top casing 20. The second hinge plate 42 has a depending boss 43 which is not apertured. Instead, a headed bolt 44 is adjustably secured by a nut 45 in the front of the base 11, whereby adjusting the bolt 44 will determine the angle of the scrapping position.

second hinge plate a2 and thus of the scraping blade 46 adjustably secured thereon by the wing nuts and bolts 47.

In operation, with either form of invention, a pair of runners 12 is attached of a height 19 appropriate to the thickness of the particular paint film 14 to be softened and removed. The control button 29 is turned to select a heat appropriate to the thickness of the paint film 14, and the angle of the second hinge plate and the position of the blade thereon is likewise suitably adjusted. Then, the forward end of the mechanical paint remover is placed against the left hand end of the work, the second hinge plate and blade thereon being hinged upwardly to allow the paint remover to get close tothe end of the work, against an adjacent wall if present. In a few moments, the paint film thereunder will have softened and blistered, and the remover is drawn backwards, and the second hinge plate is flipped over into The mechanical paint remover is then moved back and forth, progressing in a backward direction from left to right, with the rear handle or rear portion of the double handle held in the right hand, softening or blistering the paint film as moved forward, until the opposite end of the work is reached. Then, the remover is reversed so as to be able to scrape the paint softened by the remover in its last stroke. The process is repeated on the adjacent width of paint film and so on until the'jobis finished.

Due to this paint remover resting and riding on narrow runners of selected heights according to the depth of the paint film, it remains fairly level and does not tilt' as it would if it were on a flat wide bottom. The runners being narrow, they press through the softened paint, thus supporting the apparatus on a level and providing level scraping and preventing gouging at one side or the other. They also protect the bottom of the device from wear, and being curved at both ends, they permit the apparatus to slide easily over the softened paint in both directions.

The novel features and the operation of this invention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as limited to the exact forms disclosed and that changes may be made therein within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the v invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated base, runners, curved upwardly at each end, detachably secured along the long bottom of said base, a top casing secured to the top of said base, handle means mounted on said top casing, and a paint scraper mounted on the'forward end of said top casing, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate secured to said top casing, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, an adjustably secured stud abutting between said second hinge plate and said base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate, said scraper blade having an upper forwardly curved edge and a lower widened sharpened scraping edge.

2. A mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated bottom base, a top casing secured to the top of said base, handle means mounted on said top casing, and a paint scraper mounted on the forward end of said top casing, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate secured to said top casing, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, an adjustably secured stud abutting between second hinge plate and said base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate, said scraper blade having an upper forwardly curved edge and a lower widened sharpened scrapping edge.

3. A mechanical paint remover comprising an elonheight arranged to be detachably secured along the long bottom of said elongated base, said runner means being curved upwardly at each end, handle means for receiving both hands of an operator, scraper means adjustably and pivotally mounted at one end of said elongated base, said scraper means comprising a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured together, one of said hinge plates being secured adjacent the front end of said base, a scraper blade, sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjustably secured to the other of said hinge plates, and an adjusting stud adjustably secured to the front end of said base, the top end of said stud abutting against the bottom side of said second hinge plate limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate and scraper blade mounted thereon.

4, A mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated bottom base, runners, curved upwardly at each end, detachably secured along the long bottom of said base, a top casing secured to the top of said base, handle means mounted on said top casing, and a paint scraper mounted on the forward end of said top casing, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate secured to said top casing, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, a stud adjustably secured to said second hinge plate abutting betwecn said second hinge plate and said base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate, said scraper blade having an upper forwardly curved edge and a lower widened sharpened scraping edge.

5. In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated base; a top casing secured to the top of said base, a scraper adjustably and pivotally mounted on front of said top casing, said scraper comprising a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured together, one of said hinge plates being secured to the front end of said top casing, and a scraper blade sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjustably secured to the second hinge plate, and an adjusting stud, adjustably secured to said second hinge plate, the bottom end of stud abutting against the front end of base, limiting the downwardly pivoting of saidsecond hinge plate, said scraper blade being mounted on the second hinge plate.

6. In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated base; scraper means adjustably and pivotally mounted at one end of said elongated base, said scraper means comprising a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured together, one'of said hinge plates being secured adjacent the front end of said base, and a scraper blade, sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjust ably secured to the other of said hinge plates, and an adjusting stud abutting between said second hinge plate and the front end of said base limiting the downward piv oting of said second hinge plate and scraper blade mounted thereon.

7. In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated hottorn base, elongated runner means of appropriate height arranged to be detachably secured along the long bottom of said elongated base, said runner means being curved upwardly at each end, scraper means, and means for adjustably and pivotally mounting said scraper means at one end of said elongated base.

8; In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated bottom base, elongated runner means of appropriate h'eight'arranged to be detachably secured along the long bottom of said elongated base, said runner means being curved upwardly at each end, and scraper means adjustably and pivotally mounted at one end of said elongated base, said scraper means comprising a pair of hinge "hinge plates.

9. In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated bottom base, elongated runner means of appropriate height arranged to be detachably secured along the long bottom of said elongatsd base, said runner means being curved upwardly at each end, and scraper means adjustably and pivotally mounted at one end of said elongated base, said scraper means comprising a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured together, one of said hinge plates being secured adjacent the front end of said base, a scraper blade, sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjustably secured to the other of said hinge plates, and an adjusting stud abutting between said second hinge plate and the front end of said base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate and scraper blade mounted thereon.

10. In a mechanical paint remover comprising a base; a paint scraper mounted on the forward end of said base, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate arranged to be secured to said base, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, an adjustably secured stud abutting between said second hinge plate and said base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate.

11. In a mechanical paint remover comprising a base; a paint scraper mounted on the forward end of said base, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate arranged to be secured to said base, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, an adjustably secured stud abutting between said second hinge plate and said base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate, said scraper blade having an upper forwardly curved edge and a lower widened sharpened scraping edge.

12. A mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated base, elongated runner means of appropriate height arranged to be detachably secured along the long bottom of said elongated base, said runner means being curved upwardly at each end, handle means for receiving both hands of an operator, scraper means adjustably and pivotally mounted at one end of said elongated base, said scraper means comprising a pair of hinge plates being secured adjacent the front end of said base, a scraper blade, sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjustably secured to the other of said hinge plates, and an adjusting stud abutting between said second hinge plate and the front end of said base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate and scraper blade mounted thereon.

13. A mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated closed bottom base, an elongated electrical heater unit to heat the bottom of base, a top casing secured to the top of said base, an insulation plate secured on said top casing, handle means mounted on said top casing,

conductor means extending through said handle means to said electrical heater and a paint scraper mounted on the forward end of said top casing, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate secured to said top casing, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, an adjusting stud, adjustably secured to second hinge plate, the bottom end of stud abutting against the front end of base, limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate, said scraper blade having an upper forwardly curved edge and a lower widened sharpened scraping edge.

14. A mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated open bottom base, an elongated electrical heater unit to project heat rays through such open bottom, runners curved upwardly at each end, detachably secured along the long bottom edges of said base, a top casing secured to the top of said base, an insulation plate secured on said top casing, handle means mounted on said top casing, conductor means extending through said handle means to said electrical heater and a paint scraper mounted on the forward end of said top casing, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate secured to said top casing, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, and an adjustable stud, adjustably secured to second hinge plate, the bottom end of stud abutting against the front end of base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate, said scraper blade having an upper forwardly curved edge and a lower widened sharpened scraping edge.

15. In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated base, a top casing secured to the top of said base, scraper means, and means for adjustably and pivotally mounting said scraper means at the front end of said top casing, said scraper means comprising a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured together, one of said hinge plates being secured to the front end of said top casing, and a scraper blade sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjustably secured to the second hinge plate, and an adjusting stud, adjustably secured to said second hinge plate, the bottom end of stud abutting against the front end of base, limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and scraper blade mounted thereon.

16. In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated base, a top casing secured to the top of said base; scraper means adjustably and pivotally mounted at the front end of said top casing, said scraper means comprising a pair of hinge plates pivotally secured together, one of said hinge plates being secured adjacent the front end of said top casing, and a scraper blade sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjustably secured to second hinge plate, and an adjusting stud, adjustably secured to front end of base, the top end of stud abutting against the bottom side of said second hinge plate, limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate and scraper blade mounted thereon.

17. In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated closed bottom base, a top casing secured to the top of said base, runner means comprising elongated elevations of appropriate height, arranged to be permanently secured along the long bottom of said elongated base, said elevations being curved upwardly at each end, said elevations being spaced so as to form grooves or spaces between each elevation, scraper and means for adjustably and pivotally mounting said scraper means at front end of said top casing.

18. In a mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated bottom base, a top casing secured to the top of base, elongated runners of appropriate height arranged to be detachably secured along the long bottom of said elongated base, said runners being curved upwardly at each end, and scraper means adjustably and pivotally mounted at one end of said top casing, said scraper means comprising a pair of binge plates pivotally secured together, one of said hinge plates being secured adjacent the front end of said top casing, a scraper blade, sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjustably secured to the other of said hinge plates.

19. In a mechanical paint remover comprising a base, a top casing secured to the top of said base; a paint scraper mounted on the forward end of said top casing, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate arranged to be secured to said top casing, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, an adjustable stud, ad justably secured to the front end of base, the top end of stud abutting against the bottom side of second hinge plate, limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate.

20. In a mechanical paint remover comprising a base, a top casing secured to the top of said base; a paint scraper mounted on the forward end of said top casing, said paint scraper comprising a hinge plate arranged to be secured to said top casing, a second hinge plate pivotally secured on said first hinge plate, an adjusting stud, adjust ably secured to second hinge plate, the bottom end of stud abutting against the front end of base limiting the downward pivoting of said hinge plate, and a scraper blade adjustably mounted on said second hinge plate, said scraper blade having an upper forwardly curved edge and a lower widened sharpened scraping edge.

'21. A mechanical paint remover comprising an elongated base, a top casing secured to the top of said base, runner means comprising elongated elevations of appropriate height, arranged to be'permanently secured along the long bottom of said elongated base, said elevations being curved upwardly at each end, handle means for receiving both hands of an operator, scraper means adjus'tably and 'pivotally mounted at the front end of said top casing, said scraper means comprising a pair or hinge plates being secured adjacent the front end of said top casing, a scraper blade, sharpened at its low edge and curved forwardly at its upper edge, adjustably secured r, 8 to the other of said hinge abutting between said second hinge plate and the front end of said base limiting the downward pivoting of said second hinge plate and scraper blade mounted thereon.

References (Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I 1893 503,098 Newton Aug. 8,

887,743 Storm May 12, 1908 ,033,327 Coflelt Mar. 10, 1936 2,062,998 Peterson Dec. 1, 1936 2,202,264 Peterson May 28, 1940 2,491,716. Collins Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 354,315 Great Britain Aug. 7, 1931 408,535 Great Britain Apr. 12, 1934 plates, and an adjusting stud 

